The Tribal and Land Acknowledgment Guide is currently under development. Guidance for and approval of content is being sought from various stakeholders to ensure respectful and thoughtful content that is of use to the Boise State Community. Any comments or suggestions can be directed to Lisa Phillips (lisaphilips961@boisestate.edu) and Cheryl Oestreicher (cheryloestreicher@boisestate.edu).
Boise State University was established upon the ancestral homelands of the Original Boise Valley People - the Newe (Shoshone), Numu (Paiute), and the Panakwate (Bannock) People - whose descendants are citizens of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley, Ft. McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, the Burns Paiute Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. As an institution of higher learning, we recognize the historical impact federal policies have had on tribal people. We acknowledge the importance of strengthening tribal community engagement and offering rich historical and cultural education at Boise State University.
"Acknowledgment is a simple, powerful way of showing respect and a step toward correcting the stories and practices that erase Indigenous people’s history and culture and toward inviting and honoring the truth. Imagine this practice widely adopted: imagine cultural venues, classrooms, conference settings, places of worship, sports stadiums, and town halls, acknowledging traditional lands. Millions would be exposed—many for the first time—to the names of the traditional Indigenous inhabitants of the lands they are on, inspiring them to ongoing awareness and action."
~ From the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture Honor Native Land: A Guide and Call to Acknowledgment
About Land Acknowledgments
Native Governance Center, A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
Native Governance Center, Beyond Land Acknowledgment: A Guide
Articles, Scholarship, and Criticism
"What are land acknowledgements and why do they matter?" and "Land acknowledgements are a good first step, but there’s a lot more work to be done" by indigenous writer Selena Mills
"Why Land Acknowledgments Matter" by Chip Colwell, founding editor-in-chief of SAPIENS
Land Acknowledgments Meant to Honor Indigenous People too Often do the Opposite—Erasing American Indians and Sanitizing History Instead by Sobo and Lambert (2021)
'Land Acknowledgments' Are Just Moral Exhibitionism by Graeme Wood (2021)
We Are All on Native Land: A Conversation about Land Acknowledgments The Field Museum (video)
'I regret it': Hayden King on writing Ryerson University's territorial acknowledgement (2019)
Boise State University encourages the use of its Land Acknowledgement Statement to respectfully recognize the land, its history, and the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded it for generations. Opening events with this statement—whether read aloud, shown on slides invites mindfulness about where we are, the resources we benefit from, and our relationships with the land and its people. You do not need to be Indigenous to share this statement; it’s about showing gratitude, acknowledging the past, and fostering a spirit of learning. To support proper usage,
Boise State provides pronunciation guides, and a dedicated library guide to deepen understanding. The goal is to try—use the tools provided, practice reading it aloud, and encourage others to learn alongside you.
Including on a Syllabus
Including the Land Acknowledgement Statement on a syllabus at Boise State University is a meaningful way to recognize and honor the Indigenous peoples who have historically and continue to inhabit this land. It serves as a reminder to be mindful of the history, culture, and contributions of Native communities, and it encourages respectful engagement with the land and each other.
More coming soon
Guidance on how and when to use the statement, pronunciations, and other materials will be available soon. This is a work in progress and any recommendations and suggestions should be sent to Lisa Phillips.